It’s happening!

WHAT

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Together, we are fulfilling the dream of affordable stable year-round rental housing for community members of all ages. The Cortes Island Seniors Society has purchased a 51 acre parcel close to downtown Mansons, and are in the process of buying the adjoining 2.6 acre commercial lot capable of supporting local business enterprises.

In the first phase of development, we envision rezoning the existing Senior’s Village to include an additional four units to begin to accommodate some of the 16 seniors already on the waiting list.

Thereafter, the clearest already identified need through multiple housing surveys and public input, is for rental homes of various sizes for low income seniors, singles and families, which may be built on a modest part of the 51 acres, leaving a large parcel, which if planned well, could be enough land to address much of our community’s housing needs for years to come.

VISION

• Family housing clusters of rental homes to retain young families, plus accommodating individuals and couples • Expanding the existing Senior’s Village by four units • A new Senior’s Village with more rental options on this new land • Cluster housing concept enables shared neighbourhood septic and water systems, with the potential for an innovative shared energy design • Commons would be developed for public trails, community garden, workshop-business-office amenities.

SITE

The 51 acres of prime flat residential zoned land situated between Cemetery and Beasley roads, is perfectly situated all within five minutes walk of downtown Manson’s. There is an additional 2.6 acres of commercial zoned land capable of supporting local business enterprises that is now operated by CIBATA (Cortes Island Business and Tourism Association).

BENEFITS

• Support a thriving and diverse island population of all ages and varied means • Develop more walking trails to and from the downtown Manson’s Village • Local jobs for island mills, carpenters, and value-added woodwork • Keeping our island school viable with a growing number of children • Opportunity to start educational apprenticeship programs for a new generation of builders • Maximizing use of local lumber from our new Cortes Community Forest • Kick-start our Local Economic Action Plan (LEAP).

EXTENDED VISION

We get to co-create, imagine, to dream together what might be possible on the remaining acres. What might we need?– Tiny home sites?– Equity Co-op Homes for those who wish to downsize in their elder years?– Expanded care for those who wish to age in place?– Summer accommodations for seasonal employees?

We will go one step at a time, one phase at a time, with a flexible vision and an open ear.• That this project could be replicable in other parts of the island, if there is a need and opportunity to do so.